Hyacinth 



kept constantly moist, and covered with the greenest moss, to give to 

 the ornament containing them a finished appearance. 



Feather, Grape and Musk Hyacinths will grow in any good 

 garden soil, and are admirably adapted for borders that are shaded 

 by trees. They should be planted in large clumps, and be allowed 

 to remain several years undisturbed. They are all beautiful the 

 Feather Hyacinth emphatically so ; indeed, numerous as beautiful 

 flowers are, this, for delicacy of structure, has peculiar claims to our 

 admiration, when presenting its feathery plumes a foot or more in 

 length, all cut into curling threads of the most elegant tenuity. 



Roman Hyacinth. This flower is particularly welcome in the 

 short, dark days of November, December and January. For placing 

 in glasses to decorate the drawing-room or dinner-table the spikes of 

 bloom are largely grown ; and the separate flowers, mounted on wire, 

 form an important feature in winter bouquets, for which purpose 

 their delicious perfume renders them especially valuable. 



The bulbs are cheap, and can be grown with the utmost ease. Pot 

 them immediately they can be obtained in August or September, 

 and stand them in some spare corner in the open ground, where they 

 can be covered with a few inches of ashes. This will encourage 

 the roots to start before there is any top growth. In October 

 remove the covering, and transfer the pots to a pit or frame, or 

 they may be placed under the greenhouse stage for a time, pro- 

 vided they will not be in the way of dripping water. A little later, 

 room should be found for them upon the stage, or the foliage may 

 become drawn. When the buds are visible, plunge the pots in a 

 bottom heat of 65 or 70, and in a week the flowers will be fit for 

 use. Like its more imposing prototype, the Roman Hyacinth may 

 have its roots gently freed from soil for packing in bowls or vases 

 filled with wet moss or sand ; but they ought not to be subjected to 

 a violent change of temperature. If wanted in glasses, they can be 

 grown in water after the usual fashion, but the flower is scarcely 

 adapted for this mode of treatment. 



Italian Hyacinth. Although rather later in flowering than 

 the Roman variety, the Italian Hyacinth deserves to be grown as a 

 pot plant especially for its more lasting quality. The graceful flowers 

 are carried on long stout stems which are most effective for the decora- 

 tion of vases. The bulbs are perfectly hardy, and may be planted in 

 clumps in the open border, where they will bloom in April and afford 

 abundant sprays for cutting. The habit is less formal than that of 

 the Dutch Hyacinth and the flowers exhale a sweet delicate perfume. 



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